By Emma Stanton, Staff Writer
Pride in Vermont may look slightly different than the huge parades through the streets of San Francisco or New York City. Right here in the quiet Green Mountain State, crowded dance floors will be accompanied by gravel cycling, a documentary premiere, cocktails, trivia, a high heel race, crafts, comedy, and lots more.
“The goal is to make this month our celebration of Pride,” Seton McIlroy, co-founder of Pride of Woodstock, told the Standard. “It is about expanding our community spaces to include and celebrate every human being, and to do so joyfully. Queer joy is an act of resistance, and our goal is to come together to uplift and celebrate all.”
Here are some of the Pride activities coming up in our local area.
Woodstock
On Tuesday, June 2, Pride of Woodstock will kick off its celebrations early at The Thompson. McIlroy told the Standard, “The Thompson senior center hosts community conversations on Tuesday afternoons, and Deanna Jones, [executive director of The Thompson], invited us, along with some kids from the Woodstock Union High School Queer-Straight Alliance (QSA), to come and engage in an intergenerational conversation.
“The experiences of being gay in 1980 are vastly different from the experiences of being gay today, and I think that connecting older and younger members of the community to share and support each other is so vastly important, now maybe more than ever,” McIlroy said.
This conversation will begin at 1 p.m. at the Thompson Senior Center. All are welcome to come and listen or participate in an active dialogue.
Then, on Thursday, June 4, Pride of Woodstock will partner with Ranch Camp for the first annual Ride with Roxy event. McIlroy explained, “A long time ago, one of the owners of Ranch Camp came to me to let me know about this woman called Roxy Bombardier — a transgender cyclist who served in the Iraq war and made the brave decision to transition in her 50s. She is a fascinating person and a huge gravel rider. That was how the Ranch Camp crew came to know about her.
“On Thursday, beginning at 3 p.m., cyclists can gather at East End Park for a gravel ride hosted by the Woodstock Area Mountain Bike Association (WAMBA), led by Roxy,” McIlroy said
Afterward, participants are invited back to Ranch Camp for beers and burritos before heading to Town Hall Theatre for a screening of Roxy Bombardier’s documentary, “Claim The Lane: Becoming Roxy,” set to begin at 7 p.m.
“As an added bonus,” McIlroy added, “The Alchemist Brewery up in Stowe will release their annual beer called Just Say Gay — a super exclusive release you can only get in Stowe. But our friends at Ranch Camp have generously agreed to secure a few cases to sell at the documentary, which is a massive treat for beer lovers.”
On Friday, June 5, welcome cocktails will be provided on the front lawn of the Woodstock Inn & Resort beginning at 5 p.m. This will be followed by a DJ dance party at 8 p.m. at the Little Theater, hosted by DJ Brian of the Woodstock Inn.
“Then on Saturday, we will host our third annual high heel race on Elm Street,” McIlroy said. “The festivities will begin at 9:30 a.m. when we roll out the red carpet. Drag Queen Emoji Nightmare will be our grand marshal this year, and like the Kentucky Derby, this event will have all the pageantry for an hour, followed by a quick two-minute race.”
At 10 a.m., the Made with Pride Craft Fair will commence on The Green, featuring a selection of artists and crafters showcasing their artistic talents and unique perspectives within the LGBTQ+ and allied community.
McIlroy said, “This year, we’ve moved the Tea Dance to The Green, so there will also be a big tent on The Green during the craft fair, with music provided by DJ Sarah from Abracadabra Coffee, then at 3 p.m., DJ Bugie from San Francisco (a true fan-favorite of Pride) will take over for an all-out dance party.”
Also, that day, the Woodstock Inn & Resort will host its annual drag brunch, where executive chef Matthew McClure will create a large buffet of brunch options to go along with the show. Reservations are required. Visit tinyurl.com/n29prayd for more information.
And, later that evening, Pentangle Arts will host a Funny with Pride Comedy Show at Town Hall Theatre from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m., where LGBTQ+ comedians from across Vermont will gather to share jokes and tell extravagant tales, according to McIlroy.
“This is such an important weekend to be a part of,” McIlroy told the Standard. “We want to celebrate everyone in our community and make sure those who may feel particularly unsafe in this country right now have a safe place to land and be joyous and free. To see that our community is full of allies and LGBTQ+ members helps all of us feel a little less alone. Our goal is to keep the conversation going and to bring an amazing weekend of celebration and fun to Woodstock.”
For more information on how to volunteer, donate, or support Pride of Woodstock, visit prideofwoodstockvt.org/about.
Bethel
Bethel’s fifth annual Pride celebration begins on Thursday, June 25. Starting at 7 p.m., Babes Bar will host a gay trivia event featuring outrageous questions and fun, and festive drinks. Then, on Friday evening, the Bethel White Church will host a Drag Show with Drag Queen Emoji Nightmare. The show is 18+ with a $15-$40 suggested donation. All proceeds go directly to the performers, and drinks will be supplied by Babes Bar. No presale tickets, so all are encouraged to arrive early to secure a seat.
And for those seeking a sober pride experience, Bethel Pride will host a Family Meeting on Saturday, June 27, at 12 p.m. at the Parish House. This is a closed meeting for those who identify as LGBTQ+ and are sober or seeking sobriety. People of every faith are welcome.
Then, at 2 p.m., all are welcome to attend a special circle process at the Bethel Arts Center, centering on the experiences of transgender and non-binary members of the community. Food will be provided; all are welcome to come and listen with open hearts.
For more information, visit facebook.com/bethelpridefest.
Lebanon, N.H.
The Lebanon Opera House (LOH) is set to host events beginning Friday, June 12. “For our fifth annual salute to the LGBTQIA+ community, we’re turning up the volume,” Lucas Mendelsohn, Communications and Technology Coordinator for the Lebanon Opera House, told the Standard. “Our popular resource and artisan fair will be held in Colburn Park beginning at 6 p.m., followed by a loud and proud dance party inside the theater with guest DJs.”
“The evening’s headliner, DJ Rekha, is a producer, curator, educator, and founder of Basement Bhangra, one of NYC’s longest-running club nights,” Mendelsohn said. “They’ve shared the stage with Yoko Ono, The Roots, and M.I.A. and performed all around the world. Their dynamic dub and hip-hop-informed DJ sets often incorporate South Asian diasporic dance music with an ear toward a global sound that builds inclusive environments of joy.
“At LOH, Rekha is joined by drag artist Lal Batti. She’s a neon Desi-diva who crossed seven seas, three airports, two immigration officers, and one very confused Uber driver just to ruin your mascara and bless your nightlife. It should be a fantastic celebration of the LGBTQ+ community.”
For more information, visit lebanonoperahouse.org/pride.
White River Junction
Those looking to celebrate Pride all summer long can join in the fun of White River Junction Pride from July 11 – 25 for a nonstop, two-week-long celebration.
Danny Brzozowski, pride organizer for White River Junction, told the Standard, “The first event on July 11 will be a Dyke Fest Dance Party at Main Street Museum to kick off the festivities. On July 15, we’ll host a Pride Pop-Up at the Hood Museum in Hanover, a Tip Top Pride Pottery Event on July 18, a speed dating dance party at the Filling Station later that evening, followed by crafts, queer movie nights, trivia, karaoke, and drag shows throughout the week, with a Pride Parade on July 25.
“Every year, we get louder and prouder and have more and more community support. We decided one weekend is simply not enough time to fit in all the celebrations; however, the culmination of our event will definitely take place on Saturday, July 25, with the parade and dance party to flow throughout White River Junction,” said Brzozowski.
Brzozowski added, “For me, community is the most important thing. Pride is the opposite of shame, and having a celebration like this where so many people can come together to create something so innately positive, especially during such a harsh and difficult time, is absolutely essential. Let’s maintain joy, celebration, and empowerment throughout the month of June, July, and every month from here on out.”
For more information on how to get involved and celebrate Pride in White River Junction, visit wrjpride.com.
